Welsh athlete charged with anti-doping violation

A Welsh athlete has been provisionally suspended from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after being charged with an anti-doping violation.

Rhys Williams has been charged with an anti-doping violation. Credit: PA

Rhys Williams, the Wales' 400 metres hurdles champion and son of rugby union great JJ Williams, became the second Welsh athlete to be forced out over an alleged anti-doping violation, after 800m runner Gareth Warburton.

In a statement Welsh Athletics said the 30-year-old had been charged with committing an anti-doping rule violation under the IAAF Anti-Doping Rules.

They said: "Rhys has the opportunity to respond to the charges against him and to have those charges determined at a full hearing before the national anti-doping panel."

They added: "Welsh Athletics is obviously concerned that this is the second anti-doping violation by a senior Welsh international athlete and will be conducting its own internal review."